December 7, 2025 — 9:00 AM Service

PRELUDE
“We Three Kings” (arr. Cynthia Dobrinksi)
Grace Notes

CALL TO WORSHIP
“Prepare the Way of the Lord” (Karle Erickson)
Canticle Choir

WELCOME

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE
“Drive Out the Darkness”

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Blessed be the Holy Trinity, + one God, who stills us in slumber, cradles us in darkness, and awakens us to follow the way of life.
All: Amen.
Pastor: Christ is coming. Let us be still and acknowledge the fear that divides, the sin that isolates, and the brokenness that yearns to be healed.

Silence is kept for reflection

God in our midst,
All: As the season gets darker and colder, we too easily lose our way amidst the busyness and bustle. We stumble over shadows of our own ignorance. We hustle by shiny lights rather than carefully following your footsteps. We are too quick to drown out your voice that quietly calls us to pause in stillness and gratitude. Meet us in the dark, O God, with rest and renewal. Awaken us from our ignorance, heal our wounds, and cradle us in your mercy, so that we might see you on the path before us.
Pastor: Christ is coming! Be still and know that your sins are forgiven by the power of + Christ at work within us. Rejoice! God is near.
All: Amen.

GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

OPENING HYMN
“Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn” (St. 1-3)
ELW # 242

PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God,
the burdens we carry feel heavy often, but you call us to hold an even greater burden, for the healing of the world. If our loads are heavy, give us rest, but give us the hope that you will carry the weight of a world that longs for goodness and grace, through the Emmanuel, God-with-us. Amen.

READINGS
Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON
“Rest”
Pastor Peter

SONG
“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
Tim Graf

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

OFFERING INTRO

OFFERING OF MUSIC
“Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be)” (arr. Jordan Smith, Jonas Myrin)
Alan Bach, Tim Graf

OFFERING PRAYER
Gracious Lord,
As we wait for you in desert places, we offer these gifts with glad and expectant hearts. As you come to dwell among us, bless these gifts that are given from the abundant store of all that we have first received from you. Make us a people who celebrate this joyous season with acts of kindness and charity that tell of your love. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE LORD’S PRAYER

AGNUS DEI

MUSIC DURING HOLY COMMUNION
“Carol for Advent” (Nancy Price and Don Besig)
Canticle Choir, Jodi Edstrom (flute), Larry Bach (director)

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

BEFORE YOU GO

BENEDICTION

HYMN
“Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers” (St. 1 & 4)
ELW # 244

SENDING
Go now in peace. Prepare the way for Emmanuel.
Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE
Tim Graf

Musicians for Today’s Worship

Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
Barb Carroll (Organist)
Canticle Choir
- Larry Bach- Director
Grace Notes
Jodi Edstrom
Alan Bach

Prayers

As a community of faith, we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:

Jerry, Jeremy, and Jeff Peterso, after the death of Sharon, their wife and mother
Family and friends of Yvonne Kemple
Prayers for Mike Howes (Kris) and family on the death of his father, Michael Howes
Prayers for Penny Meier and family on the death today of her mother, Mavis
Ramona Larson and family on the death of her husband, Douglas 
Joanne Tanke and family after the death of her husband, Gordon  
Prayers for Michelle (Ryan) and family on the death of her father, Dale Cylkowski

Prayers of Mourning:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.
–Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
–Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’
–John 11:25–26

As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:

Stacy Trenda
Sharon Peterson and family
Debbie West 
Johnny and Reba Khodai
Dave Lorence 
Joyce Harstad 
Cathy Schweitzer 
Elva Lareau, Paul Lareau’s mother 
Dave and Linda King’s son, Jonathan  
Dave Anderson 
Scott Elsass 
Joey Johnk

Long Term Prayers:

Collin Buzzel 
Crosby Urlick 
Hugo Herman 
Nicholas Priest 
Madelyn Astry 
Paul Skoog’s Brother, Dan 
Jim Hornbacher 
Julie Bergquist 
John Rostad 
Kathy Hoagland 
Ron Wolfbauer 
For the people of Haiti, who are enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence. 
For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine, non-violence and peace. 
All those in the military serving our country

General Prayers:

Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you.
–Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
–Matthew 11:28

Names will remain listed until more are added unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.

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